Is Mostar Safe in September 2026?

At cafes and restaurants on the terrace strip overlooking the Stari Most bridge and along the Kujundžiluk bazaar lane, tourists are handed menus without prices or with prices shown only in small print. After eating, the bill arrives significantly higher than expected — common additions include a per-person "terrace fee", uncounted bread and water charges, and inflated service fees not mentioned at ordering. The view premium is built into the markup rather than disclosed upfront.

How to avoid: Request an itemised menu with prices in Bosnian marks (BAM) before ordering. Confirm whether bread, water, and seating charges are included. Review the bill line by line before paying and ask for an explanation of any unfamiliar charge.

Unofficial taxis outside the bus station offer rides into the old town for €10 when the actual fare should be €2–3. Drivers of non-licensed cabs use rigged meters or refuse to use one at all.

How to avoid: Only take taxis marked with a "TA" sign — these are official. Walk from the bus station (15 minutes) or agree on a metered fare before entering.

Handlers on the famous bridge take bets from tourists on whether the diver will jump. Whether the dive happens depends on what people bet — it's a rigged system designed to extract money.

How to avoid: Watch the diver from a distance without engaging with handlers. If you want to tip a legitimate diver, do so directly after a completed jump.

Pickpockets work the crowded Kujundžiluk bazaar and bridge viewpoints, especially when tourists are distracted taking photos of the iconic arch.

How to avoid: Keep valuables in front pockets or a zipped crossbody bag. Be especially alert when stopping to take photos in busy areas.

Fraudulent websites and social media pages mimic the Mostar Diving Club (Mostarski Ronilački Klub) by using similar branding and photos of the famous 21-metre jump from Stari Most. Tourists who pre-book and pay online find that the booking does not exist when they arrive at the bridge. The club does not charge for watching the jump and only collects donations on-site; any online pre-payment is fraudulent.

How to avoid: The Mostarski Ronilački Klub does not accept advance online bookings for the bridge jump. Arrange in person at the club kiosk beside the bridge on the Mostar side. Never pay in advance via third-party sites.